At some time in your life you are likely to experience or witness a traumatic event. Those events that involve intense fear, helplessness or horror are more likely to result in a disabling response. Examples of traumatic events are criminal assault, sexual abuse, domestic violence and stalking.
Common emotional responses include fear, guilt and anger. Common cognitive responses include impaired concentration, self-blame and intrusive thoughts. Common physical responses include sleeping difficulties, tiredness and impaired appetite. Common behaviour responses include social withdrawal and loss of interest in usual activities.
While most trauma victims recover quickly a small number do not. Some people go on to develop conditions such as Acute Stress Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Major Depressive Disorders.
Symptoms that constitute these disorders include intrusive thoughts, avoidance behaviour, restricted emotions and increased arousal.
Some of the factors that may contribute to severe responses to trauma include the severity, duration, proximity and nature of the trauma.
Following a trauma it is important to tell your story and stay connected to close others. It is also very imoortant to continue with your normal life routine as best as possible as well as to confront your fears.
If you are continuing to have significant symptoms post trauma you will most likely require some professional help. If so please call Victims of Crime Counselling and Compensation Services on freecall 1800 00 00 55 or 93808129.
Women who become victims of sexual assault typically experience the victimization as a traumatic event, perceiving it as an emotional shock. Common reactions to this kind of trauma are:
- Fear of losing control of their lives.
- Re-experiencing the assault in thoughts and dreams.
- Trouble concentrating.
- Feelings of guilt.
- Self-image frequently suffers; many women report feeling “dirty’ and shower frequently in an effort to be clean.
- Sense of sadness, feeling “down”, and depressed.
- It is not unusual to see disruption in relationships with others.
- Loss of interest in sexual relations.
Continue reading ‘Sexual Assault’
Domestic violence is a crime. Women are at greater risk at home than on the street. Most violence in the home is committed by men. Women and children are most of the victims.
Domestic violence is any behavior which causes physical, sexual or psychological damage or causes someone to live in fear. Physical and sexual violence are the more obvious forms of violence. Rape within marriage is a crime in Victoria. Other forms of violence include making you think you are crazy, locking you in the house, threatening to kill the children, treating you like a servant, and so on. Some have said that these things are just as damaging as physical violence.
If you are in a violent relationship you may feel degraded and alone, afraid to tell anyone, worried about what others will think, afraid that it is your fault, scared that it will get worse if you leave, insecure about your children’s future, frustrated and sad because you have tried everything to change the situation, guilty about leaving, that you have failed as a wife and mother. You are not to blame about the violence. You have a right to be safe. You have the right to live a life free of violence.
Continue reading ‘Domestic Violence’